Egg container and method of making it



Oct. 16, 1951 s, BERGSTE N 2,571,408

EGG CONTAINER AND METHOD OF MAKING IT F iled May 22, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 r 4f g 7 I IHP :23 1-2pm 2.9 II'yMI "zv Why-"lip 54140:, 354 65 TE/IV.

ATTORNEYS.

Oct. 16, 1951 5. BERGsTElN 2,571,408

EGG CONTAINER AND METHOD OF MAKING IT Filed May 22, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORN EYS.

Patented Oct. 16, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE EGG CONTAINER AND METHOD OF MAKING IT 11 Claims.

My invention relates to cellular cartons which are made up and stored and shipped in knockeddown, partially assembled condition.

It is an object of my invention to produce a simple, knock-down container for eggs in which each egg is maintained in an individual cell or compartment.

It is an object of my invention to produce a simple, knock-down cellular container which may be made rapidl by machinery and which will require only the simplest manipulation by the user to erect it and make it ready for the reception of the articles to be packed.

It is an object of my invention toprovide a knock-down cellular container comprising an outer band member and an inner partitioning element of double thickness, the parts being adhesively secured, and the element extending vertically from the top to thebottom of the carton, the bottom of which, when associated with the outer band, forms a strong supporting rib extending longitudinally the entire length of the container. The longitudinal supporting rib elevates the centermost portions of the bottom of the container from the surface on which the container is resting thus cushioning the contents and preventing direct contact with the underlying surface.

I It is another object of my invention to provide a container for eggs or the like which, when filled and closed, may be stacked with a number of other like containers without injury to its contents. In other words, to provide a container structurally capable of supporting considerable weight and designed so as to present ample contacting surfaces whereby a number of containers may be securely placed one upon the other without danger of upsetting or injuring the contents.

It is another object of my invention to provide an improved container of the type referred to and a process for making it in which advantages in economy are attained, especially in the elimination of expensive manipulation. Additional economy can be realized by making the different parts of the container from different grade or thicknesses of paperboard. 'Thus the outer band may be made from a better grade of paperboard having a surface suitable for printing or otherwise presenting an attractive appearance, while the inner partition elementmay be of a cheaper grade of paperboard since it does not receive printed indicia. Moreover, for strength, the inner partition element may, if desired, be made of a heavier or stiffer grade of boxboard.

It is still another object of. my invention to produce containers of this character rapidly and inexpensively, and while the method herein set forth may be practiced by hand, mechanism may be provided whereby my method may be readily subject to mechanization in an economical manner. Such mechanism is claimed in my copending divisional application Serial No. 195,559, entitled Apparatus for Assembling Multiple Part Egg Container and the like.

These and other objects of my invention will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein an exemplary embodiment of my invention is illustrated as follows:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the outer band or shell element of my container in blank condition.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the inner partition element in blank condition.

Figure 3 is a plan view showing the inner partition element after folding and gluing along its median line of articulation.

Figure 4 is a plan view illustrating how the inner element is registered and secured to the outer band.

Figure 5 is a diagrammatical side elevation of the step illustrated in Figure 4 taken along line 55 of that figure.

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken along line 6-6 of Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a sectional view taken along line 11 of Figure 5.

Figure 8 is a plan view showing the inner partition registered upon the outer band.

Fig. 9 illustrates the two elements after the outer band has been folded about the inner partition.

Fig. 10 is an end elevation showing the completed carton in knocked-down condition.

Fig. 11 is also an end elevation and shows the completed carton in erected condition.

Fig. 12 is a perspective view of the erected carton prior to folding down the transverse partition sections.

Fig. 13 is the same as Fig. 10 except the transverse partition sections have been folded into place.

Fig. 14 is an end elevation of the erected carton illustrating in broken lines the closed cover position and showing how the cover portion i supported by the side walls and the top of the central longitudinal partition.

In its usual embodiment my container comprises two rows of six compartments each. It will be understood however, that I do not wish to be limited to egg containers of this size, or for that matter, to egg containers at all, as my invention may be employed to provide other types of containers wherein individual or cell packing is desired.

Turning now to Fig. 1, I have illustrated a preferred blank for forming the outer band element of my improved container. It consists of front wall I, bottom forming portions 2 and 3 separated by ridge-forming portions 4 and 5, rear wall 6, cover portion 1, and closure flap 8 having a plurality of retaining tongues 9, all in the order named. Front wall I is hingedly connected to bottom portion 2 by score line I 0, while score lines H and I2 hingedly connect portions 4 and 5 to bottom portions 2 and 3 respectively. Score line I 3 serves to connect the two ridgeforming portions, while the lines of score [4, l5 and I6 hingedly connect members 3, 6, I and 8 respectively. a

Bottom portion 2 and 3 have longitudinally spaced transverse slots ll which will be explained more fully hereinafter. The bottom portions may be further configured by spaced bisecting lines of cut [8 which serve as cushions for the toe ends of the eggs.

Longitudinal stripes of adhesive are indicated at H, 20 and 2|, which, in accordance with my invention, are applied to the band element while it is in blank condition and before the inner partition element is associated with it in the folding and gluing operations, as will become clear further on. I

In Figure 2 I have illustrated a preferred blank for forming the inner partition element of my container. It is composed of like halves, corresponding members of which have been given corresponding numerals in the drawings. To avoid confusion, the numerals referring to one half of the blank have been primed to distinguish them from their unprimed counterparts.

The partition element comprises glue laps 22 and 22' hingedly connected by score lines 23 and 23 to horizontal partition panels 24 and 24 cut and scored to provide a plurality of transverse partition members 25 and 25'. Vertical partition elements 26 and 26 are hingedly connected to the opposite edges of partition panels 24 and 24 by score lines 21 and 21'. The halves are articulated to one another by a common line of score 28. Transverse partition members 25 and 25' have triangular portions cut from their inner sides as indicated at 29 and 29 while 30 indicates a coating of adhesive applied to partition member 26.

In Figure 3, I have shown the inner partition element as it appears after having been folded along score line 21. The partition halves have been brought into face to face relation with adhesive coated vertical partition member 26 firmly adhered to the opposed vertical partition 26. This operation may be performed by any ordinary folding and gluing machine now in general use in the industry. The blank is first passed beneath a glue roller to receive the adhesive coating 30; it is next folded along median score line 28 whereby adhesively coated vertical partition element 26 is brought into contact with vertical partition member 26'. Pressure may then be applied by means of rollers to secure a firm bond between the glued members. The partition element is then in condition to be associated with the outer band element.

Referring to Fig. 4 and companion Figs. 5, 6 and 7, I have illustrated mechanism for associating the inner partition element with the outer band. Cut and scored outer band blanks are fed crosswise on to a pair of moving chains 3| by any suitable feed means (not shown), and each blank is engaged along its trailing edge by aligned dogs or lugs 32 projecting upwardly from the moving chains. Chains 3| are spaced laterally so that dogs 32 will engage the trailing edges of bottom forming portion 3 and rear wall 6 respectively. It may be found necessary to add an additional chain 33 having dogs 34 and moving in sequence with chains 32 to keep the blanks in proper alignment as they move through the machine. Guide rails 35 and 36 are also provided to maintain the blanks in proper position and prevent them from skewing to one side.

The moving blanks first pass beneath glue rollers 3'! fed by intermediate rolls 3B and 39 from glue pot 40. Pressure rolls 4| are provided beneath glue rollers 31 to provide a firm contacting surface. In operation, glue rollers 3'! apply to the blank the three longitudinal glue stripes 1,20 and 2 I.

After receiving glue stripes, the blanks next pass beneath hopper 42 filled with folded and glued inner partition elements, indicated generally at 43. The hopper is positioned so that the partition elements lie above bottom portion 3 and rear wall 6 of the outer band with articulated edge 28 of the inner partition lying directly above median score 20 of the outer band element. The partition elements are retained in hopper 42 by means of inwardly extending edges or rails 44 and 45, rail 44 terminating at the forward edge of the hopper while rail 45 extends beyond the hopper to retain the free outer edges of the partition element after extraction from the hopper. The front and rear walls of the hopper are raised slightly to expose the edges of the lowermost partition element. As an alternative, the rear wall of the hopper may be provided with U-shaped openings along its bottom edge which expose the lowermost partition element in the line of travel of dogs 32.

The partition elements are extracted from the hopper by means of dogs 32, which it will be remembered, also engage and carry the outer band blank. The height of the dogs is fixed so that theywill pass beneath the raised rear wall of the hopper or through apertures provided therein and engage the exposed rear edge of the lowermost partition element. The forward motion of the dogs carries the partition element forward, moving it from beneath the hopper along guide rails 44 and 45. Guide rail 45, extendin beyond the hopper, retains the partition element in proper alignment after it moves from beneath the hopper so that its position at all times is directly above, although not fully in contact with, bottom portion 3 and rear wall 6 of the outer band blank. As the partition element is withdrawn, however, the leading edge will have a tendency to sag, that is, bend downward to touch the outer band. Rail 45 prevents the free outer edge of the partition element from sagging; but the closed bottom edge 28 will sag, coming in contact with the band at a point adjacent score line 20. As soon as the partition element moves completely out from under the hopper, the bottom edge 28 will drop as it is no longer supported by rail 44. The opposite free edge of the partition is still supported by rail 45; thus, at this point, the partition element lies slightly inclined, with its entire bottom edge resting on glue stripe 20 of the outer band adjacent score line [3 and its outer free edges supported by the angular rail 45 which are secured to one another.

prevents the under glue lap 23' from touching glue stripe 2|. While in this condition a sweep 46 engages the under side of bottom member 2 and folds it over on to the partition along score line 20 thereby causing the folded edge 28 of the partition and the adjacent areas to contact glue stripe 20 and bond to ridge-forming portions 4 and 5. This action is best illustrated in Figure '7 wherein outer band portions l and 2 are shown partiall folded over the partition element by action of sweep 46. Guide rail 45 holds the free outer edges of the partition element free from contact with the outer band and also serves as a means to force the opposite closed edge of the partition firmly into the crotch formed by folding the outer band or score line 20.

When the partition element passes the end of guide rail 45, the free outer edges of the partition will also sag and drop down onto the outer band with the under or outerzside of the partition contacting underlying portions of the outer band. Glue lap 22 will fall onto glue stripe 2|, while glue stripe I9 will be closed upon glue lap 22 by the continued downward pressure of sweep 45. Pressure rollers 41 are provided at the end of the sweep to press the elements firmly together, thus causing a good bond between the adhesive stripes and the glue laps.

' In Figure 8 the partition element is shown positioned on the outer band element before the infolding of front wall I and bottom portion 2.

In Figure 9 the container is shown after infolding with the partition element inserted and glued into position.

Referring to Figure 10, the assembled container is seen in end elevation as it is about to be erected and illustrates the partition element positioned within the outer band, showing particularly the points at which the partition members The container is erected simply by moving the front wall member outwardly from the rear wall. This action causes partition members 24 and 24' to assume a horizontal position, pulling longitudinal partition members 26-25' upward between the front and rear wall members. This action causes bottom forming members 2 and 3 to assume a somewhat horizontal position, folding outwardly on score lines Hand l2, forming a distinct four thickness ridge, indicated at 48 in Figure 11 running the entire length of the container.

The completely erected cart-on is shown in Figure 12 before transverse partition members 25 and 25 have been folded into place. This is accomplished by folding each partition member along 3 its line of articulation until the free end engages slot [1 provided in the bottom portion to receive it. Thus each transverse partition member may be retained rigidly in place. The completed container with all partition members folded is shown in Figure 13. It will be noted that several of the cells are formed by half-partition members which do not reach the bottom of the container and for which transverse slots have not been provided. This device has to be resorted to as the length of the container precludes formation of full-length transverse partitions to form each cell.

Horizontal partition members 24 and 24' are not truly horizontal but extend outward and downward from vertical partition elements 26 and 26' at an angle measured on the outer wall by the width of glue laps 22 and 22, as best seen in Figure 11. This angularity causes bottom portions 2 and 3 to incline in the same manner although the angles of inclination are not necessarily equal, depending upon the relative lengths of members 2 and 24 and also 3 and 24.

In order for the transverse partition members 25 and 25' to fit property between the center vertical partition and the outer walls, they must be biased inwardly along their inside edges since the lines of articulation are at right angles to the side walls. To this end, all transverse partition members have cut-out portions 29 removed from their inner edge. Thus, when folded the transverse partitions fit properly between the wall and center partition member.

It.will be noticed, also, that the angle by which partition members 24 and 24 are oifset from the horizontal is such that it causes the bottom edges of walls I and 6 to lie in the same horizontal plane as the bottom of central rib member 48 to provide a firm base for the container. By the same token, the top edges of walls I and 6 lie in the same horizontal plane with the top edges of the center partition element to form rigid, equally spaced supporting edges upon which the cover may rest, as illustrated in Figure 12. When a number of containers are placed one on another, the central rib of the top container will rest'on top of the central partition member of the container below. In much the same manner, although slightly offset, the side walls will lie one below the other, thus forming, with the central partition, three distinct vertical lines of support strong enough to amply sustain a great deal of weight without injury to even the lowermost container.

It will be understood that the teachings herein may be incorporated in containers of various kinds, and that modifications may be made in my invention without departing from the spirit of it. Having described my invention in certain exemplary embodiments what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A knock-down cellular container comprising an outer band associated with an inner partitioning element, said outer band comprising a front wall, a pair of bottom forming panels divided by a narrow medially scored rib-forming panel, a rear wall, and a cover panel all in the order named, said inner partitioning element comprising a double thickness vertical partition member articulated at its bottom and having a top mem'- ber extending outwardly from each side of said vertical partition with a glue lap articulated to the outer of each top member, the bottom edge of said vertical partition being nested in and adhesively secured to said rib forming panel, said glue laps being adhesively secured to the inner side of said front and rear wall members.

2. The structure claimed in claim 1 wherein said top forming members are configured to form a plurality of transverse partition elements.

3. The structure claimed in claim 2 wherein said bottom forming panels are configured by a plurality of transverse slots positioned to receive the free outer edges of said transverse partition elements and retain them therein.

4. The structure claimed in claim 3 wherein said bottom panels are configured by a plurality of equally spaced, bisecting lines of cut lying between said transverse slots whereby said eggs may be cushioned from shock.

5. In a collapsible container, an outer band comprising front and rear wall members, a cover member articulated to said rear wall, and a pair of bottom forming'members divided by a pair of narrow rib-forming members articulated to the inner edge of each of said bottom forming members and to each other, in combination with an inner partition element comprising a vertical member, top forming members articulated to and extending outwardly from said vertical member, and a glue lap articulated to the outer edge of each top member, one of said glue laps being adhesively secured to the inner face of the said front wall and the other glue lap adhesively secured to the inner face of said rear wall, said rib-forming members being adhesively secured to opposite faces of said vertical member about the lower edge thereof.

6. The combination of claim wherein said rib-forming members and said vertical partition form a multiple thickness external rib whereby the center-most portions of the said bottom members are elevated from the plane of the outer edges thereof.

7. The combination of claim 5 wherein the glue laps are folded upwardly with their outer edges adjacent the top edges of the front and rear wall members, said top members declining outwardly at an angle measured by the width of the glue laps.

8. The combination of claim 5 wherein the top edges of the wall members and the top edge of the vertical partition member are coplanar, and wherein the bottom edges of the wall members and the bottom edge of vertical partition are also coplanar.

9. The method of forming a collapsible container comprising an outer band associated with an inner partition element, which consists in providing separate scored blanks for the outer band and the inner partition, said outer band blank configured to form front and rear wall members, a top member, a pair of bottom members, and a pair of narrow rib-forming members, said inner partition blank configured to form like halves, each half comprising a vertical member with a top member connected to its upper edge and a glue lap attached thereto, said halves being joined at their lower edge, applying glue to one of the vertical members and folding it over the other vertical member whereby the halves are maintained in face to face relationship, applying narrow stripes of glue to upper faces of the front and rear wall members immediately adjacent their respective outer edges and also to the upper faces of the rib-forming members, registerin the lower edge of the inner partition element with the score line dividing the narrow ridge forming members of the outer band, folding the outer band on the line of articulation between the rib-forming members whereby the front wall and adjacent bottom and rib-forming members are folded over so that the lower portion of the vertical partition will rest between the two rib-forming members, completing the folding over of the band members so that the glue laps will contact the glue stripes on the adjacent walls.

10. The method of forming a collapsible container comprising an outer band associated with an inner partition element, which consists in providing separate scored blanks for the outer band and the inner partition, said outer band blank configured to form front and rear wall members, a top member, a pair of bottom members, and a pair of narrow rib-forming members, said inner partition blank configured to form like halves, each half comprising a vertical member with a [top member connected to its upper edge and a glue lap attached thereto, said halves being joined at their lower edge, applying glue to one of the vertical members and folding it over the other vertical member whereby the halves are maintained in face to face relationship, applying narrow stripes of glue to upper faces of the front and rear wall members immediately adjacent their respective outer edges and also to the upper faces of the rib-formin members, registering the lower edge of the inner partition element with the score line dividing the narrow ridge forming members of the outer band while suspending the upper edges of the partition above the outer band and free from contact with it, folding the outer band on the line of articulation between the rib-forming members whereby the front wall and adjacent bottom and rib-formin members are folded over so that the lower portion of the vertical partition will rest between the two rib-forming members, dropping the suspended upper edges of inner pantition on to the underlying portion of the band and at the same time completing the folding over of the band members so that the glue laps will contact the glue stripes on the adjacent walls.

11. In a collapsible container for the packaging of a plurality of articles in individual compartments, the combination of an outer band for surrounding the articles to be packaged, and an inner partition element for dividing said outer band into a plurality of individual compartments, said outer band comprising a front wall, a pair of bottom forming panels divided by a narrow medially scored rib-formin panel, a, rear wall, and a cover panel including a locking flap all in the order named, said inner partition element comprising a double thickness vertical partition member articulated at its bottom and having a top forming member extending outwardly from each side thereof with a glue flap articulated to the outer edge of each top forming member, said partition element being enclosed by said outer band with the bottom edge of said partition nested in and adhesively secured to said rib-forming panel, said glue flaps being turned upwardly with their outer edges adjacent the top edges of the front and rear wall members and adhesively secured thereto, said top forming members being configured to form a plurality of transverse partition elements, and said bottom forming panels being configured by a plurality of transverse slots positioned to receive the free outer edges of the said transverse partition elements when the said partition elements are folded so as to divide the container into individual compartments.

SAMUEL BERGSTEIN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,511,678 Schwartzberg Oct. 14, 1924 1,614,997 Scotcher Jan. 18, 1927 1,784,275 Coyle Dec. 9, 1930 1,836,100 McWilliams Dec. 15, 1931 1,922,145 Troyk Aug. 15, 1933 1,975,106 Klefeker Oct. 2, 1934 2,037,502 Cox Apr. 14, 1936 2,261,625 Jones Nov. 4, 1941 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 815,639 France Dec. 17, 1936 

